Churn attachment for washing machines



I 7 March 5 J. MIKULASEK 1,349,631

CHURN ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING IACHINES.

Fi1ed Sept. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WINNIE March 15, 1932. ,1.MIKULASEK 1,349,63T

CHURN ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING ACHINES v Filed Sept. 20, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. :15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHNMIKULLSEK, OF NEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MAYTAG COMPANY, 01 i iNEWTON, IOWA-{A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I OHURN ATTACHMENT FOR "WASHINGMACHINES Application filed September 20, 1929. Serial No. 398,880.

' The present invention relates to churn devices and more 1n partlcularto churn devlces for use w1th washing machlnes.

Among, the objects of the invention is to provide a novel churn deviceadapted for ready attachment to the drive shaft of a washing machine. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel churn deviceadapted to be placed within the tub of a washing machine and to bedriven by the drive shaft of the washing machine, the positioning of thedevice in the tub being such as to provide a compartment around thechurn for the retention of water for varying the temperature of thematerial being churned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel churn devicehaving a container provided with acentral tubular portion for receivingthe gyrator shaft of a washing machine, the shaft carrying at 1ts endnovel churn mechanism associated with the material being churned.

The invention comprehends, the provision of a novel churn mechanismcomprising a drive head removably connected with the end of the washingmachine drive'shaft, which is adapted to carry paddles disposed inparallel spaced planes in the container.

The invention further comprehends the idea of providing a novel churndrive head carrying paddles, the head andpaddles being driven by thedrive shaft of a washin machine and adapted to be readil, removetherefrom for proper cleansing o the various parts of the device.

Another feature of the invention 1s to provide centering means, thiscentering means,

for reinovably coupling the head to a drive element connected to thedrive shaft of a washing machine.

The invention further comprehendsthe idea of providing a novel removablechurn drive head adapted to be coupled with the 7 drive shaft of awashing machine, the head having a projecting portion or lug adapted tobe associated with the drive shaft for supporting and positioning thehead on the shaft. I

.As another novel feature of the invention, means are provided forholding the churn container stationary within the tank of a washingmachine. Such means may be in the form of a projecting finger, the endof which may contact the corner of the crown of the wash tub to preventrotation of the churn container. Y Other objects, advantages,capabilities and features are comprehended by the invention as willlater appear, and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a washing machine, aslikewise the embodiment of the novel churn selected to illustrate theinvention, the churn being operatively connected to the drive shaft ofthe washing machine. a

Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the washing machine and'ehurn showing inFig. 1', with parts I taken in the plane represented by line of Fig. 1of the drawings. I

Referring now more in detail'to the drawings, the' embodiment selectedto illustrate the invention is shown as connected to a washing machine1, having a tub 2, provided with a crown 2 and supporting legs 3. Thetub 2 at the bottom thereof is provided with a central plate 4to whichis connected a mem her 5 having suitable bearings f 6- through whichextends a vertical drive shaft 7 This shaft has mounted on its lower endand within the member 5, a pinion S'meshing with a rack or pitman (notshown) for driving the shaft. The center plate 4 is provided with anannular flange portion 9 adapted to receive a tubular casing or housing10, this casing or housing having mounted therein at its upper end abearing 11 having a bushing 12 to provide suitable journallingmeans forthe upper end of this drive shaft.

The churn device comprises a container 13 having a tubular centralportion 14 adapted to receive or fit over the housing 10 of the driveshaft of the washing machine, this container adapted to rest upon thebottom of the tub 2. The container 13 is provided with an upper annularflange 15 having a beaded or rolled periphery 15 for strengthening thecontainer, as likewise to provide means for facilitating the easyhandling of the churn when it is desired to lift the same in or out ofthe washing machine, or for carrying from place to place. In the lowerside of the container is a drain nipple 16 having external threadsadapted to engage with the internal threads of a screw cap 17, this capbeing removable for draining fluid from the container such as buttermilk when cream has been agitated within the container for makin butter,etc.

Tn order that the container 13 may be properly centered about the shaft7, an annular collar or hearing 18 is provided about the housing 10, theends of this collar being adapted to contact or seat with the ends ofthe flange 9 for its proper positioning. Further means for centering thecontainer 13 about the shaft 7 are provided in the form of an annularcollar or bearing 19 which is connected to the upper portion of thetubular portion 14 and is adapted to fit around the upper end of thedrive shaft housing 10.

Upon the upper end of the shaft 7 is mounted a non-circular drivingelement 20 adapted to be coupled with an easilv removable drive head 21for carrying paddles 22 of the churn device. This drive head 21 isprovided with an inverted cup-shaped body portion 23 having oppositelydisposed flange elements 24 to which are connected the paddles 22 by anysuitable means such as rive'ts 25 or the like, these paddles beingspaced from the shaft 7 and disposed in parallel vertical. planes.

Spaced openings 22 are provided in these paddles to cause the materialin the churn to be agitated and caused to be turbulently whirled aboutwithin the container 13 when the paddles are rotated or driven by theshaft 7. The body portion 23 is provided with an internal bore 26 and alarger bore 27, the smaller bore 26 adapted to receive a member 28 forcoupling with the driving element 20 on the end of the shaft 7. A dowelpin 29 is provided and extends through an opening in the head and member28 for holding the latter against rotation in the head. The lowerportion of the member 28 forms with the walls of the larger bore 27 anannular slot or grooved portion 30 into which projects the end of thecentral tubular portion 14 of the container l3, the diameter of the bore27 being suflicient to provide clearance between the head and tubularend portion, yet effecting a seal between the interior of the containerand the end of the shaft 7 and connected parts. A lug 31 depending fromthe upper portion of the body portion 23 is provided and is adapted tocontact the top surface of the driving element 20 for positionin I andsupporting the head 23 on the drive sha t and to prevent contact betweenthe ends of the tubular portion 14 and upper edge 32 of the annulargroove or recess 30.

The churn container 13 is provided with a tight fitting lid or cover 33having an annular depressed portion 34 to provide a substantiallyvertical annular surface 35 for contacting the upper end of thecontainer. The cover is likewise provided with an annular peripheralflange 36 having a beaded or rolled edge 37 this annular flange beinga'd pted to contact the flange of the container and to provide a tightfit between the cover and container.

' The central portion of the cover is provided with a splash cupindentation for reinforcing the cover and likewise providing means forretaining the splashed fluid which may find its way through the vent 38provided in the bottom of this indentation.

In order that the churn containermay be held substantially stationarywhen the churn is operated, a finger or arm 39 is provided having aflange 40 connected by rivets or any other suitable means to the topofthe side wall of the container, the other end adapted to contact thecorner surface of the tub crown 2*. A handle 41 is provided for liftingthe cover 33.

Ordinarily the drive shaft of the washing machine is coupled by means ofthe drive element 20 to a gyrator for agitatin the water in the tub 2and for washing the clothes. When it is desired to churn cream or thelike for making butter, this gyrator may be readil slipped off the driveshaft and drive sha t housing after which the churn container may beeasily slipped thereover. The drive head carrying the churn paddles maythen be readily and easily slipped over the driving element 20 at theend of the shaft 7 the cream poured into the container, the lid placedthereon and the washing machine driving mechanism started for churningthe cream into butter. During this churning action, water of any desireddegrees of temperature may be poured into the Washing tub and about thechurncontainer to aid in churning. When the. cream has been churned, thecontainer 13 may be easily removed from the washing machine, after whichthe gyrator may be replaced on the drive shaft for 'wasliing purposes.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe latter is not limited. thereto, but may comprehend otherconstructions, details, arrangements of parts, and features withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having a driveshaft, a container of, said container having a central, axially disposedtubular portion adapted to receive the driving shaft of the washingmachine, a removable drive head adapted to engage said shaft and havingmeans between the driving shaftand its outer wall for receiving theupper end of'said tubularmember,and approximately fiat paddles spacedradially from said tubular member and suspended at one end from saiddrive head, said paddles being arranged substantially tangential withrespect to said tubular portion.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification;

JOHN MIKULASEK.

therefor adapted to be placed within the m tub of the machine, paddlesin said container, and means for driving said paddles from said driveshaft, said means including a driving element mounted on said shaft, asleeve adapted to receive said element and be nonrotatably positionedthereon, and a driving head connected'to said sleeve whereby saidelement, sleeve and head are adapted to be rotated as a unit.

2. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having a driveshaft, a container therefor, adapted to be placed within the tub of themachine and provided with a central upstanding tubular portion, adriving element mounted on said shaft, a driving head carried by saidelement and provided with paddles, and a sleeve member carried by saidhead, said sleeve member and head'forming an annular recess therebetweenfor the reception of said tubular portion to efiect a seal between saidcontainer and shaft.

3. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having a drivingshaft,'a container adapted to be placed within the tub of the machineand having a tubular member con centric with the shaft, a drivingelement mounted on one end of said shaft, a driving head ofapproximately circular cross section engaging and'supported by saiddriving element, said head having paddle supporting means, and paddlesrigidly secured at one end to said supporting means and dependingtherefrom and spaced from said tubular member. Y

4. In a churn device for use with a washing machine having ardrivingshaft, a container adapted to be placed within the tub of the machine,va'driving element mounted on one end of said shaft, a driving head ofapproximately circular cross section engag ing and supported by saiddriving element, sald head having rigid flanges, and paddles rigidlysecured at one end to said flanges and depending therefrom, said paddlesbeing irralnged tangentially with respect to said 5. A churn devicecomprising a container adapted to be placed within the tub of a wash-

